Why does Apple make it so hard to give them my money?

[alfa147x]

Maybe they thought you were a barista?

MotionMan

Hahahaha

 

[GotIssues]

My mind is still boggled as to how no one in this thread has figured out that Apple is "giving" all these repairs for free and yet still raking in fistfuls of cash. The money doesn't appear from nowhere. Their margins are astronomical.

They are basically packaging in an super extra extended warranty in their original price, then convincing customers they are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts.

Apple Marketing > *

 

[alfa147x]

My mind is still boggled as to how no one in this thread has figured out that Apple is "giving" all these repairs for free and yet still raking in fistfuls of cash. The money doesn't appear from nowhere. Their margins are astronomical.

They are basically packaging in an super extra extended warranty in their original price, then convincing customers they are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts.

Apple Marketing > *

It's not like their products cost much more than directly competing products.

 

[GotIssues]

It's not like their products cost much more than directly competing products.

Sarcasm?

 

[alfa147x]

Sarcasm?

No.

Prove me wrong.

Edit:
Not counting accessories

 

[lord_emperor]

Apple is happy to fix your stuff under warranty since they got all the money up front by charging twice what equivalent hardware is worth.

 

[GotIssues]

No.

Prove me wrong.

Edit:
Not counting accessories

Piece of cake. MacBooks. $1200 for a $500 equivalent.

Either way, margins are not entirely dependent on price, but also cost to produce a good. Their insane level of market share in the mp3 category probably gives them massive leverage when negotiating component prices.

Bottom line is they could probably sell the product for a much lower price, but don't have to. They maintain a better than average return policy for the reputation.

Most accessories have ridiculously high margins. That sports armband they sell for $30 probably cost $1 to make. This could also be one of the primary reasons they want to keep people happy with a lax return policy.

Further proof is their company financials. Granted, I only did a quick google search and not actually digging into them myself, so take it with a grain of salt (or do some research yourself), but Apple's profit margin was 28.8%. http://ycharts.com/companies/AAPL/profit_margin

Dell's is 5.81%
http://ycharts.com/companies/DELL/profit_margin

Money doesn't appear from nowhere. Apple is making ridiculous amounts of money, all from your pocket, while you are smiling saying how awesome they are. This is exactly why Apple Marketing > *.

Note: I own iPods and I like them, but I'm not foolish enough to believe they aren't a corporation whose primary purpose is to make money. They aren't nice because they are nice, they are nice because it benefits their bottom line. The moment it doesn't, expect it to stop.

 

[edro]

Wow. I'm glad to hear they make repairs.
I always assumed I would have to pay $600+ for a new 4S if I dropped it and cracked the screen.

 

[amdhunter]

I read somewhere that their customer service is built into the price, so they make you pre-pay for those free/cheap repairs.

The replacement screen for my Mac was quoted $380. That wasn't a cheap repair.

 

[amdhunter]

Wow. I'm glad to hear they make repairs.
I always assumed I would have to pay $600+ for a new 4S if I dropped it and cracked the screen.

Nope. $30 for back glass, and $75 for the front. My iPhone looks brand spanking new, they even cleaned the front screen really well. (It's two years old almost.)

 

[alfa147x]

Piece of cake. MacBooks. $1200 for a $500 equivalent.

I still see no proof.

 

[alfa147x]

Nope. $30 for back glass, and $75 for the front. My iPhone looks brand spanking new, they even cleaned the front screen really well. (It's two years old almost.)

If you have apple care. If not I think it's $150

 

[Connoisseur]

Piece of cake. MacBooks. $1200 for a $500 equivalent.

Umm no. Compare the MacBook to an equally configured Ultrabook. They're pretty much on price parity. You're comparing a MacBook to a regular old laptop which is typically made with cheap-feeling ABS plastic, poor quality screen and general ugly aesthetics.

Apple learned long ago what a lot of companies are just learning now. Build a quality looking/feeling product, and they will come...

 

[alfa147x]

Umm no. Compare the MacBook to an equally configured Ultrabook. They're pretty much on price parity. You're comparing a MacBook to a regular old laptop which is typically made with cheap-feeling ABS plastic, poor quality screen and general ugly aesthetics.

Apple learned long ago what a lot of companies are just learning now. Build a quality looking/feeling product, and they will come...

Took GM a damn long time...

 

[Zenmervolt]

I still see no proof.

Not as extreme as the previous poster suggested, but there's a definite price premium for the Macbook even with relatively comparable machines.

13" Macbook Pro: $1,199

• Core i5 2.4 GHz
• 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500 GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• Display Resolution: 1280x800

14" Lenovo ThinkPad Edge: $729

• Core i5 2.5 GHz
• 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• Display Resolution: 1366x768

I chose the ThinkPad because it can't really be accused of being cheaply made to account for the price difference.

If I wanted to match the 13" Macbook's price, I could get a lot more machine with the ThinkPad:

14" Lenovo ThinkPad T420: $1,199

• Core i5 2.6 GHz
• 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500GB 5400 RPM HDD
• NVIDIA NVS 4200M Graphics 1GB DDR3 Memory
• Display Resolution: 1600x900

Macs are still more expensive when compared to comparable hardware from other manufacturers. And before anyone comments about me using the web price and not the street price for the Lenovos, the web price is what people pay; I've yet to see one listed anywhere for the supposed "retail" price.

ZV

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Took GM a damn long time...

You should go work for them and tell them a couple of decades ago... or do your powers not stretch that far...

 

[ponyo]

I remember you posting that your laptop screen developed a crack and shattered for no reason and no fault of your own. I never had a PC laptop screen crack on me out of the blue. Aren't defects covered under basic warranty?

 

[alfa147x]

Not as extreme as the previous poster suggested, but there's a definite price premium for the Macbook even with relatively comparable machines.

13" Macbook Pro: $1,199

• Core i5 2.4 GHz
• 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500 GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• Display Resolution: 1280x800

14" Lenovo ThinkPad Edge: $729

• Core i5 2.5 GHz
• 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• Display Resolution: 1366x768

I chose the ThinkPad because it can't really be accused of being cheaply made to account for the price difference.

If I wanted to match the 13" Macbook's price, I could get a lot more machine with the ThinkPad:

14" Lenovo ThinkPad T420: $1,199

• Core i5 2.6 GHz
• 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333 RAM
• 500GB 5400 RPM HDD
• NVIDIA NVS 4200M Graphics 1GB DDR3 Memory
• Display Resolution: 1600x900

Macs are still more expensive when compared to comparable hardware from other manufacturers. And before anyone comments about me using the web price and not the street price for the Lenovos, the web price is what people pay; I've yet to see one listed anywhere for the supposed "retail" price.

ZV

Is it made of plastic or metal? We have plenty of $2000+ ThinkPads in the office. It's what our devs who prefer windows use. They still don't stack up against a MacBook's build quality.

I agree. Macs are more expensive but not by much. Even with those ThinkPads you get a shitty trackpad. Build quality is worth that extra cash.


Compare a MacBook Air to a Samsung Series 9. That's a much better comparison. Or another lenovo:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/lenovo-ideapad-u300e-ultrabook-available-now/

 

[alfa147x]

I remember you posting that your laptop screen developed a crack and shattered for no reason and no fault of your own. I never had a PC laptop screen crack on me out of the blue. Aren't defects covered under basic warranty?

Link?

 

[alfa147x]

You should go work for them and tell them a couple of decades ago... or do your powers not stretch that far...

Unfortunately I was born in the early 90's. Thus my powers didn't start till then.

 

[busydude]

Even with those ThinkPads you get a shitty trackpad.

You don't get to use a clitoris with a Macbook.

 

[alfa147x]

You don't get to use a clitoris with a Macbook.

You don't need one. You have iPhone

 

[Dominato3r]

Why can build quality only be achieved with metal?

 

[Bignate603]

Isn't that true about any business?

Some make you pay up front, others make you pay for the services, but all make you pay.

 

[MarkXIX]

Why can build quality only be achieved with metal?

There's something "Earthy" and primal about metal and glass that can't be replicated by plastic.